I'm SO Confused Right Now!!!

[antmantis1]

Ok, I know you guys are sick of hearing from me. . But today I found out that "4X2" is adequate space for a FULLY GROWN RT. Which I thought was awesome because it just so happens that I have a shelf that is a little bigger than that. So I am going to convert it into an RT table! Sounds great right!? WRONG! I jsut heard from another post that this is only suitable for Hatchlings...... Why kill my dream. So can I get the facts is "4X2" good for a fully grown RT?

 

[dmmj]

Fully grown male or female?
Personally I would say it is on the small size. I would try and find an old book case that I could use.

 

[Laura]

bigger the better.. they are very much escape artists. and will drive you nuts trying to get out. if its big enough to give them things to do and hide etc.. tis not as bad..
CAN one live in a space like that,, yes.. ideally it best to go bigger. mine is in a 4x8 space .

 

[antmantis1]

Ok we're talking a 4 inch male here.So how will that go. I didn't know they like to frolic and wonder.
Little ecaper's lol

 

[wellington]

No! They should have at least a 6x2 and that is with outside time when temps are warm enough. You could build your 4x2 for now if you have a hatchling now and that will give you some time to fit in the bigger one you will need. Also you should have an outside pen to put him in when the weather is warm enough and sunny.
No one wants to kill your dreams, they just want you to have the correct information to raise a happy, healthy tort.

 

[jojodesca]

Ok, I know you guys are sick of hearing from me. . But today I found out that "4X2" is adequate space for a FULLY GROWN RT. Which I thought was awesome because it just so happens that I have a shelf that is a little bigger than that. So I am going to convert it into an RT table! Sounds great right!? WRONG! I jsut heard from another post that this is only suitable for Hatchlings...... Why kill my dream. So can I get the facts is "4X2" good for a fully grown RT?

I would think that a 4x2 is a good size IF its an indoor enclosure and you take him/her out to roam in the yard for exercise. I am pretty sure you can make it work.

 

[wellington]

No! They should have at least a 6x2 and that is with outside time when temps are warm enough. You could build your 4x2 for now if you have a hatchling now and that will give you some time to fit in the bigger one you will need. Also you should have an outside pen to put him in when the weather is warm enough and sunny.
No one wants to kill your dreams, they just want you to have the correct information to raise a happy, healthy tort.

Oops, I am very sorry I meant a 4x6. Although a 2x6 would still be much better than a 2x4. This is still with outside time. Again sorry for the oops

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Ok, I know you guys are sick of hearing from me. . But today I found out that "4X2" is adequate space for a FULLY GROWN RT. Which I thought was awesome because it just so happens that I have a shelf that is a little bigger than that. So I am going to convert it into an RT table! Sounds great right!? WRONG! I jsut heard from another post that this is only suitable for Hatchlings...... Why kill my dream. So can I get the facts is "4X2" good for a fully grown RT?
[/quote

I would think that a 4x2 is a good size IF its an indoor enclosure and you take him/her out to roam in the yard for exercise. I am pretty sure you can make it work.

Don't forget, making it work and what is best for the tort are two very different things. A roaming tort will get very bored in a too small of an enclosure and will not be a happy tort. If you live where it can live outside all
the time and only come in at night or a few days the weather may be bad then yes you could make it work.
If you have cold long winters than, no it really wouldn't work.

 

[antmantis1]

Oh ok, so to clarify things about this. My tortoise will have an out door enclosure. It's just that it gets a tad TOO cold at night and so I want to be able to move him inside. Most of the time, he will be out and about roaming outside. But since it's winter I don't want this guy to freeze on me. When he gets here.

 

[wellington]

Where do you live?, Which State?

 

[lynnedit]

I am the member who suggested a minimum of 4'x2' for one RT. Of course, the bigger you can make it, the better. And if you start with that, you can always expand with a second level or make it longer in the future, or even 'L' shaped with a pass through door. I also mentioned that that size was OK if your tort was outside (assume much bigger area) for part of the year.
You did sound like space was tight, and at that time, you were thinking of a much smaller one.
My 4.5" male is in a 5'x2.5' enclosure with a 1'x2.5' second level.
Fact is, with Russians (and other torts too), you probably can't make too big of an enclosure!
So yes, make the enclosure as big as your space will allow. If you need a minimum to start with, 4'x2' would work.

 

[antmantis1]

I am the member who suggested a minimum of 4'x2' for one RT. Of course, the bigger you can make it, the better. And if you start with that, you can always expand with a second level or make it longer in the future, or even 'L' shaped with a pass through door. I also mentioned that that size was OK if your tort was outside (assume much bigger area) for part of the year.
You did sound like space was tight, and at that time, you were thinking of a much smaller one.
My 4.5" male is in a 5'x2.5' enclosure with a 1'x2.5' second level.
Fact is, with Russians (and other torts too), you probably can't make too big of an enclosure!
So yes, make the enclosure as big as your space will allow. If you need a minimum to start with, 4'x2' would work.

Ok thanks I am thinking about adding a second story to it. See, wood is like excessive over here lol . So we're just throwing it all together for my RT. I live in Southern Pennsylvania. I have not met anyone from around there yet on the forum. Pennsylvanians where you guys at!?

 

[wellington]

Where do you live?, Which State?

Okay, I looked up your intro and seen you live in S. PA. In your intro you said you would be housing indoor. So for housing, your 4x2 is too small! We can't really give you the answer you want, it is not a good size. So you need to get a bigger enclosure! If you were able to house outside 95% of the time then a 4x2 would be okay, not good but okay! If you don't care that your tort is happy, then your 4x2 is fine!

 

[lynnedit]

Based on some of the enclosures I have seen on this forum, if you need something fairly quickly, I stand by my advice that 4'x2' is OK as a start. Sure, if you can go larger, do it now. Absolutely. But a decent table for a few months is what you need at this point. Again, that advice is based on him being outside part of the year. If you can't get a Russian tortoise outside, where they really thrive, then you might want to think about a different tort. And people do get torts outside in PA.
6'x2' is a nice size and rectangular shapes seem to work well for tort exercise, and for cleaning and care (easier to reach the far side). 8'x3' is even better, lol! If you build a bigger enclosure now, think about putting it on wheels so you can move it easily. Also make sure it fits in and out of your house if you build it inside.
Sounds like you are planning to expand when you can!
Don't forget to think about the height of the table. Russians like to climb. So take into account that you will have 4-6" of substrate (more in some areas). Then you want the sides about 2x the tort's length. So a 12" side is a minimum. You can even put a 1"x3" lip on the edge and cap the corners.
There is a lot of information to absorb!

 

[antmantis1]

Ok everyone! Give me a couple of hours! II think I have something that is about 6X2! I just got to make some measurements! The biggest I can go is aout 9X2! SO give me some time to reconstruct please! Thankyou I will be back on after I brainstorm!

 

[wellington]

Good for you. I new you could come up with something bigger. Ya ya

 

[lynnedit]

You go! I can hear the wheels in your mind turning from out here in the West!

(by the way, my husband is from Canonsburg, PA, home of Saris chocolates, yum. Are you South of Pittsburgh or Philadelphia?)

 

[antmantis1]

You go! I can hear the wheels in your mind turning from out here in the West!

(by the way, my husband is from Canonsburg, PA, home of Saris chocolates, yum. Are you South of Pittsburgh or Philadelphia?)

Im South of philly. I know exactly where canonsburg is!! Lol. My enclosure is about 8X2

 

[Utah Lynn]

8'X2' would be very good. Mine is 6X2. They get out every day to roam.

 

[lynnedit]

You go! I can hear the wheels in your mind turning from out here in the West!

(by the way, my husband is from Canonsburg, PA, home of Saris chocolates, yum. Are you South of Pittsburgh or Philadelphia?)

Im South of philly. I know exactly where canonsburg is!! Lol. My enclosure is about 8X2

Doesn't sound like you are confused any more! Lucky tort.

 

[antmantis1]

Doesn't sound like you are confused any more! Lucky tort.

Lol yea all under control now